Bruins win overshadowed by John Scott cheap shot on Loui Eriksson

Milan Lucic and Torey Krug each had a pair of goals Wednesday as the Bruins beat the Sabres, 5-2, at First Niagara Center. The night was a mix of good and bad, however, as a cheap shot from John Scott in the third period knocked Loui Eriksson out of the game.

A Jarome Iginla shot from the high slot bounced off Lucic’s leg and past Ryan Miller at 11:01 of the first period to make it 1-0, with Lucic scoring his second of the night early in the second. Cody Hodgson got the Sabres on the board, but Dougie Hamilton‘s second goal of the season made it 3-1 before Nikita Zadorov beatChad Johnson on a soft goal to bring the Sabres within one.

The teams headed into the period at 3-2, but Krug widened Boston’s lead with a pair of goals, the second of which came on the power play following Scott’s late hit to the head of Eriksson. Scott was given a game misconduct, while Eriksson spent the night at the team hotel in Buffalo, with Peter Chiarelli saying he was expected to return to Boston Thursday.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE BRUINS

– The Bruins’ first line of David Krejci between Lucic and Jarome Iginla was very strong Wednesday. Iginla played a major role in both of Lucic’s goals, as he fired a shot from the high slot that went off Lucic and past Miller in the first (he was initially credited with the goal) and then set up Lucic’s second goal just 40 seconds into the second period. Iginla still has no goals on the season, but you have to like the complete package of what he’s brought so far.

Lucic now has five goals on the season through eight games this season. Remember, he scored just seven in 46 games last season.

– Hamilton has two goals in the last three games since being re-inserted into the lineup. The B’s sat Hamilton for two games in a row last week, and though he was rather sloppy defensively in his first game back against the Panthers, he’s been able to provide the B’s with some offensive punch from the back end. Hamilton had multiple scoring opportunities Wednesday, as he ran out of room on a first-period partial break before scoring later on a 2-on-1.

– One of the few questions regarding Krug is his size, but he was playing like a much taller man Wednesday. He was physical in dealing with guys in front in the Bruins zone, while he outbattled Drew Stafford in front on his first goal of the night.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE BRUINS

– Scott’s place in the league has long frustrated hockey fans, and the very tall and barely talented enforcer showed why when he took a cheap shot at Eriksson in the neutral zone in the third period. After Eriksson had dumped the puck in at center ice, Scott hit him in the head, not quite getting him with the elbow but following through with the hit. He had to answer to Adam McQuaid afterward.

– Johnson wasn’t spectacular after a long wait to get some regular-season game action. He kept the Sabres off the board in a first period in which he wasn’t challenged much, but the Sabres’ second goal was a softy. Krug did a fine job of taking the forward in front of the net out of the play, so Zadorov had Johnson’s undivided attention with the angle cut down and still beat him.